Does music exposure during chemotherapy improve quality of life in early breast cancer patients? A pilot study.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with poor quality of life (qol) in breast cancer patients. We tested the effect of listening to music during chemotherapy on quality of life in these patients.

Material/methods: We tested in a prospective cohort the changes in qol scores as assessed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), and the influence of listening to non-preferred music at the chemotherapy unit on these parameters in a mixed linear model by repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA).

The effect of pentoxifylline on haemolysis during cardiopulmonary bypass in open-heart surgery.

Objective: Haemolysis has long been recognized as one of the responses to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative, has been known for many years for its haemorrheological properties. In this prospective, randomized study, we investigated whether a PTX treatment would reduce the haemolysis during CPB.

The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopy in Antalya, Turkey.

Bronchial asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that causes serious morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of the disorder has been increasing, especially in developed countries. The population-based asthma prevalence studies provide data from Ankara, Istanbul, Gaziantep, Trabzon, Izmnir, and Kayseri in our country and asthma prevalence ranges between 1.

Does dexamethasone improve the quality of intravenous regional anesthesia and analgesia? A randomized, controlled clinical study.

We investigated the anesthetic and analgesic effectiveness of adding dexamethasone to lidocaine for IV regional anesthesia (IVRA). Seventy-five patients undergoing ambulatory hand surgery were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group L received 3 mg/kg lidocaine, group LD received 3 mg/kg lidocaine + 8 mg dexamethasone, and group LDc received 3 mg/kg lidocaine for IVRA and 8 mg dexamethasone IV to the nonsurgical arm. IVRA was established using 40 mL of a solution.

Does using the bispectral index (BIS) during craniotomy affect the quality of recovery?

One of the aims of neuroanesthesia is to provide early postoperative recovery and neurologic examination in patients undergoing supratentorial surgery. Our aim was to investigate the role of using the bispectral index (BIS) in recovery from anesthesia and altering drug administration in patients undergoing craniotomy. Fifty American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) physical status I-II patients undergoing craniotomy were included in the study.

Does maintenance/consolidation chemotherapy have a role in the management of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)? A metaanalysis of the published controlled trials.

Background: The role of maintenance/consolidation chemotherapy was assessed in the management of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) via a metaanalytic approach.

Methods: The Medline and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant randomized clinical trials that compared maintenance chemotherapy with follow-up. Quality of trials was assessed by European Lung Cancer Working Party (ELCWP) score.

Comparison of the effect of ketamine added to bupivacaine and ropivacaine, on stress hormone levels and the duration of caudal analgesia.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare bupivacaine 0.25% and ropivacaine 0.2%, singly and in combination with ketamine, for caudal administration in children.

[Caudal epidural neuroplasty].

Epidural fibrosis and adhesions can have many causes. Postsurgical bleeding and the healing process frequently produce scarring. The associated irritation or inducement of epidural venous engorgement may contribute to pain production.

Intrathecal ropivacaine versus ropivacaine plus fentanyl for out-patient arthroscopic knee surgery.

We evaluated the effects of low-dose intrathecal ropivacaine with or without fentanyl for arthroscopic knee surgery. Fifty patients were randomized in equal groups to receive an intrathecal solution (3 ml) containing either 10 mg isobaric ropivacaine or 8 mg isobaric ropivacaine plus 25 pg fentanyl. Complete motor blockade occurred in 22 patients (88%) in both groups.

Comparison of two different techniques for brachial plexus block: infraclavicular versus axillary technique.

Background: Brachial plexus block via the axillary approach is problematic in patients with limited arm mobility. In such cases, the infraclavicular approach may be a valuable alternative. The purpose of our study was to compare axillary and infraclavicular techniques for brachial plexus block in patients undergoing arm or forearm surgery.

Comparison of the effects of clonidine and ketamine added to ropivacaine on stress hormone levels and the duration of caudal analgesia.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic quality and duration of ropivacaine 0.2% with the addition of clonidine (1 microg.kg(-1)) with that of ropivacaine 0.

Can cystatin C be a better marker for the early detection of renal damage in primary hypertensive patients?

In this study, we aimed to compare Cystatin C (Cys C) with other traditional glomerular filtration rate (GFR) markers and to evaluate its superiority over them in detecting early renal involvement in patients with primary hypertension. Fifty-one primary hypertensive patients and 29 healthy control subjects, who were similar in terms of age and gender, were included in the study. In all subjects serum levels of Cys C, beta-2 microglobulin, serum creatinine (SCr), uric acid, BUN, albumin; 24 h urinary levels of protein (Upro), albumin (Ualb) and creatinine were measured.

Comparison of the vasodilatory effect of nadroparin, enoxaparin, dalteparin, and unfractioned heparin in human internal mammary artery.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) (eg, nadroparin, enoxaparin, and dalteparin) cause a vasodilatory effect in human internal mammary artery (IMA) and to further compare its effect with unfractioned heparin (UFH). Samples of redundant IMA obtained from 20 patients undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft surgery were cut into 3-mm-wide rings and suspended in 20-mL organ baths. Isometric tension was continuously measured with an isometric force transducer connected to a computer-based data acquisition system.

Carbonyl stress in chronic renal failure: the effect of haemodialysis.

Oxidative stress has been defined as a loss of balance between free radical production and the antioxidant systems. There have been many reports of increased production of oxidants and decreased levels of antioxidants in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. An increase in oxidative stress may contribute to the development of oxidative protein damage in CRF.

Intrathecal fentanyl added to hyperbaric ropivacaine for transurethral resection of the prostate.

Background: Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of intrathecal fentanyl 25 microg added to 18 mg of 6 mg ml(-1) hyperbaric ropivacaine on the characteristics of subarachnoid block and postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing TURP surgery.

Methods: The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: Group S (saline group, n=16) received 3 ml of 18 mg hyperbaric ropivacaine + 0.5 ml saline--in total, a 3.

Disability and its effects on quality of life among older people living in Antalya city center, Turkey.

The problems of older people become more prevalent with aging of the population. Occurrence of disability and its effects on living conditions are two of the major factors that determine the quality of life of elderly people. The aim of this study is to find out the frequency and severity level of disability for people aged 65 and older living in Antalya city center.

Systemic toxicity of tacrolimus given by various routes and the response to dose reduction.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term systemic toxicity of tacrolimus (FK-506) administered by various routes, and to assess the effect of dose reduction on toxicity.

Methods: The study animals were 120 experimentally naive adult female Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g each. The rats were randomly divided into 10 equal groups (n=12 in each) and treated with tacrolimus administered topically (in drops, 0.

Unfractioned heparin produces vasodilatory action on human internal mammary artery by endothelium-dependent mechanisms.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether unfractioned heparin produces a direct vasodilatory effect on the human internal mammary artery (IMA) and the possible underlying mechanisms. Samples of redundant IMA were obtained from 20 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and concentration-response curves to unfractioned heparin were constructed. Unfractioned heparin (0.

A simple and accurate prediction model to estimate the intrahospital mortality risk of hospitalised cancer patients.

We aimed to form a risk prediction model to assess the probability of intrahospital death in cancer patients at the time of hospitalisation. The medical records and the relevant clinical parameters of cancer patients who died in or who were discharged from a teaching hospital between 1997 and 2000 (n = 334) were reviewed to explore the determinants of intrahospital death, which later were verified prospectively (n = 131). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of four, short duration of disease (on a logarithmic scale), emergency admission, low haemoglobin (Hb) value (on a linear scale) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) value greater than 378 micro/ml were significantly and independently associated with the risk of intrahospital death.

[Cancer pain management in children].

Pain is one of the most common and frightening symptoms of children with cancer and their families. If current pain management techniques are utilized, the majority of children can achieve adequate analgesia. It is the rare pediatric patients who develop intractable pain.

Endoscopic management of the intranasal glioma.

The authors report the endoscopic management of a boy with nasal glioma who was only 35 days old. The nasal glioma is a rare congenital nasal abnormality, which manifests as a mass of extracranial cerebral tissue unconnected with the brain. For surgical excision, some surgeons suggest initial craniotomy for excluding intracranial extension.

The analgesic and sedative effects of intrathecal midazolam in perianal surgery.

Background And Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the analgesic and sedative effects of intrathecal midazolam when added to spinal bupivacaine in patients undergoing perianal surgery under spinal anaesthesia.

Methods: Forty-four patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups: Group I (B) received hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% 2 mL + saline 0.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and fasting serum insulin correlate with clinical outcome in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

Introduction: To assess the relationship of various growth factors and cytokines with the clinical outcome in metastatic breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Methods: Consecutive, metastatic breast cancer patients with measurable disease and receiving palliative chemotherapy were prospectively evaluated for the predictors of progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OAS) in relation to serum insulin, insulin resistance, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

Results: Estrogen receptor (ER) status, serum IL-6 and serum TNF- were the independent determinants of PFS, with RR=0.

An application of a genetic algorithm in conjunction with other data mining methods for estimating outcome after hospitalization in cancer patients.

Background: We investigated which factors predicted the risk of in-hospital mortality in a general population of cancer patients with non-terminal disease and whether employing the genetic algorithm technique would be useful in this regard.

Material/methods: A total of 201 cancer patients, including all cases of in-hospital mortality over a 2-year period, as well as a control group of subjects discharged during the same period, all having an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of of < or =3 at the time of admission, were retrospectively evaluated. Indicators of in-hospital mortality were determined by multivariate logistic regression, recursive partitioning analysis, neural network, and genetic algorithm (GA) techniques.

Effects of short-term exposure to homocysteine on vascular responsiveness of human internal mammary artery.

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute direct effects of homocysteine (Hcy) on the vascular responsiveness of human internal mammary artery (IMA) and to define the possible underlying mechanisms. The contractile response to both phenylephrine (Phe) (-36%) and KCl (-18%) was significantly reduced in arteries that were incubated with Hcy (10 (-4)M, 30 minutes), compared with controls (P < 0.05).